Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1887-08-03
Il MYSTIC ART.

TnE MYSTIC ART.
How m Evsnins's sport May BE Had and
tho strsagth Of tho Mind Tested.
fP~hiladslphia Rscord.l
Although SO many years have passed
since Mesmer astounded Europe with
the exposition OF what was called dia-
bolism, witchcraft and sundry other
vile epithets, but little light has been
thrown upon the real nature of the sub
tie essence. the existence of which
Mesmer proved. 1t has been variously
held by tenacious advocates that mes
merism, hypnotism or whatever other
term may be given it, is the exercise Of
animal magnetism; that it results from
a peculiar condition into which q weak
mind may be thrown by the command
Of a stronger will, and, again, that the
strongest intellects are subject to it's in
iuence If operation be conducted under
favoring conditions. Each school has
battled with all the fury of words.
Medical men are divided on the aues-
ton Of whether it be a real condition,
and not the delusions OF weak hum
plugged ~imaginations, but no unity of
conclusion has been arrived of by any
considerable number of scientists whose
opinions are worthy of attention. The
phenomena, however, that may be pro-
duced by a skillful operator are be-
yond question, and if care be exercised,
much interest and amusement may at
tach to an exhibition without harmful
results to the subjects.
An immense amount of fraud envelopes
the mystic science, owing, doubtless, to
the tales OF mercenary professors"
who hold their Secret" OF q high figure,
and hint significantly at hereditary
gifts or the nature of their charm being
discovered accidently by themselves. 1t
Is true, however, that while the full
extent Of and nature of the
essence are not yet known certain rules
have been followed to the establishment
Of the beholders. These rules are given
to Record readers with the assurance
that they are the result of considerable
experience by an ordinary citizen, who
has never practiced the art for personal
profit, and who has set forth his infor-
nation with straightforward candor.
First of oil, the successful operator,
either man or woman, must be one of
positive character, with confidence in
his or her ability. Select any conven-
lent number of subjects to be operated
upon. At the outset assure them that
no harm will come to any who may be
placed under the influence, but that
nah vnuof anucan& f,,11u <o %hA ,v,ar:
ment. Letthe room be quiet, and allow
no laughing or giggling. Each would-be
subject should place soles of feet flat
on the floor, close the eyes, and seek
to bring the mind to a passive condi-
ton. This car probably be best &C.
complished by the subject holding the
left hand in the right and counting the
pulse. This position must be main
tanned for at least fifteen minutes (care
being taken that the subject rests
easily, while the operator passes both
hands open, with palms toward subject,
from forehead tol knees, and within
three or four inches of each subject,
say half o dozen times during fifteen
minutes. For the first experiment it is
safer to take more time, twenty-five
minutes not being too long.
Now comes the first test. With quiet
confidence the operator will take the
right hand of the subject in his right.
Place the left hand on the subjects
forehead, with the left thumb Just
above the nose and between the eyes,
and the left thumb between the third
and fourth fingers, and, pressing gently
with both thumbs, instruct tho subject
to close his or her eyes tightly, after
which declare, in n commanding tone,
that they are shut fast and beyond the
power of the subject to open. If sue
cess should follow the effort the opera
tor may remove his hands and produce
the effect at will. From this any mum
Der of harmless, amusing experiments
may be tried, such as causing the sub
ject to forget names, sing ludicrous
songs, or make speeches under the i'm
preston that he is q politician. The
operator must be careful to relieve his
subject at the conclusion of an expert
ment, and to practice only what court
esy and good breeding permit. The
simple command Right" with a snap
of the finger, is usually sufficient to re-
store the subject. It may be set down
as a rule that a subject cannot be con-
trolled beyond conscience. For in
stance, if the subject be q conscientious
abstainer from ~intoxicants, no amount
Of persuasion will induce him to touch
what he is told to be liquor, although
the same subject may be compelled to
sip what he believes to be vinegar
(which is, of course, water) or even
soap suds.
Every one cannot be mesmerized at
the first sitting. Some require re-
peated trials. As q rule, about one out
of five or six candidates may be suc-
cessfully influenced in any given ex-
hibition, 80 that the operator should
not feel discouraged with meager sue
cess at first. An appearance of want
of confidence is fatal to the success of
the operator. A bold front must be
shown during the entire seance.
The stories sometimes told of the
operators influence over o subject last
ing an indefinite period of time is all
nonsense, unless the subject should so
will it. The most highly cultivated
mind may be susceptible as we'll as the
strongest physical constitution.
The ASRican National Beverage.
Everybody has heard of pulque, the
m